U.S. patent number 7,918,489 [Application Number 12/033,299] was granted by the patent office on 2011-04-05 for vehicle seat.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Takeshi Abe, Hisato Oku, Jogen Yamaki.
United States Patent |
7,918,489 |
Oku , et al. |
April 5, 2011 |
Vehicle seat
Abstract
A vehicle seat includes: a seat body; a plurality of seat
supports which extend along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle,
are disposed with interval along a width direction of the vehicle,
and support the seat body; and a load absorption member which
connects the adjacent seat supports each other, wherein the load
absorption member having: a plurality of beams which extend between
the adjacent seat supports along the width direction of the
vehicle; and a plate-shaped portion on which the beams are provided
along the width direction of the vehicle and which has a plurality
of areas which are partitioned with the beams so as to be arranged
along the longitudinal direction of vehicle.
Inventors: |
Oku; Hisato (Utsunomiya,
JP), Yamaki; Jogen (Utsunomiya, JP), Abe;
Takeshi (Utsunomiya, JP) |
Assignee: |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
39740910 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/033,299 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080217970 A1 |
Sep 11, 2008 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 9, 2007 [JP] |
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2007-060507 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/68.1;
296/187.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/42709 (20130101); B60N 2/06 (20130101); B60N
2/4235 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/68 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;296/187.03,187.12,65.13,65.14,65.15 ;297/216.1,452.18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dayoan; Glenn
Assistant Examiner: Romain; Pinel E
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat body; a plurality of seat
supports which include a pair of seat rails which extend along the
longitudinal direction of a vehicle, are spaced at a fixed interval
along the width direction of the vehicle corresponding to a width
of the seat body to support the seat body; and a load absorption
member which connects the adjacent seat supports to each other,
wherein the load absorption member comprises: a plurality of beams
which extend between the adjacent seat supports along the width
direction of the vehicle; and a plate-shaped portion attached
between a floor panel and the seat rails and located below the
plurality of seat supports and on which the beams are provided
along the width direction of the vehicle to form a plurality of
areas which are partitioned with the beams so that the plurality of
areas are arranged along the longitudinal direction of vehicle, the
plate-shaped portion being provided only between the pair of seat
rails, wherein the beams are fixed on an upper face of the
plate-shaped portion, and wherein the seat supports are joined at
bottom faces to both ends of the plate-shaped portion along the
width direction of the vehicle.
2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the beams
transmit load which is applied therein to the areas of the
plate-shaped portion.
3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat supports
include a pair of slide rails which support the seat body slidably
forward and backward along the vehicle.
4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the beams
include: a bottom flange which is fixed on the upper face of the
plate-shaped portion; and a vertical wall which stands from the
bottom flange.
5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the bottom flange
and the vertical wall of the beams form substantially an L-shaped
section.
6. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the beams include
an upper flange which extends from a top of the vertical wall
parallel to the bottom flange, and the bottom flange and the upper
flange extend in opposite directions from each other from the
vertical wall.
7. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the beams include
an upper flange which extends from a top of the vertical wall
parallel to the bottom flange, and the bottom flange, the upper
flange, and the vertical wall therebetween form substantially an
I-shaped section.
8. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the bottom flange
is joined to the plate-shaped portion substantially throughout the
width direction of the vehicle.
9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped
portion and the seat supports have substantially the same length
along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the beams are
formed as one with the plate-shaped portion by pushing upward a
part of a flat plate member forming the plate-shaped portion.
11. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a
middle reinforcement rib which is disposed on substantially a
middle position of the plate-shaped portion along the width
direction of the vehicle and extends along the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle.
12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the middle
reinforcement rib crosses the beams and is joined to the beams.
13. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the load
absorption member further comprises a flat plate-shaped portion
which is joined to upper portions of the beams and the middle
reinforcement rib.
14. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a
flat plate-shaped portion which is joined to upper portions of the
beams.
15. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a
dimple which is formed on the area of the plate-shaped portion
partitioned with the beams so as to be depressed downward with
regard to a vehicle body.
16. The vehicle seat according to claim 15, wherein the dimple has
substantially an oval-shaped extending along the width direction of
the vehicle.
17. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat body
comprises a seat cushion frame, and the plurality of beams are
spaced apart from the seat cushion frame.
18. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 further comprising a pair
of sliders provided in a seat cushion slidably forward and backward
along the vehicle so as to adjust a forward and backward position
of the seat body along the vehicle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat which can protect a
passenger from load input from an exterior of the vehicle.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-060507,
filed Mar. 9, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Most front vehicle seats are provided so that a seat body is
installed movably forward and backward on a pair of seat rails
which are installed on a vehicle floor along the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle.
In such vehicle seats, an energy absorption structure with respect
to a lateral load input is not provided; therefore, the seat body
cannot absorb collision energy of a lateral collision
efficiently.
Therefore, vehicle seats which can absorb the energy of the side
collision are contrived: for example, a vehicle seat in which left
and right seat rails are connected via another frame which is
extended along a width direction of the vehicle, a vehicle seat in
which a pair of sliders of the seat body which are connected on
left and right seat rails slidably are connected via a rib which is
extended along the width direction of the vehicle (e.g., Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2000-103274).
Since such vehicle seats have a structure in which the seat rails
and the sliders are engaged via another frame or a rib, load input
is caught at a frame and ribs, and the collision energy is absorbed
by collapse thereof when a side collision load is applied to the
seat body.
However, conventional vehicle seats have a basic structure such
that the frame and ribs extending along the width direction of the
vehicle catch a side collision load which is applied to the seat
body; therefore, if the frame and ribs are deformed by the load
exceeding its elastic limit, the energy absorption efficiency being
rapidly deteriorated there after is a concern.
In addition, if the collision load is not applied coaxially with
longitudinal directions of the frame and ribs, the frame and ribs
do not collapse enough but are bent. In this case, it is also
feared that the energy absorption efficiency is deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat
which can absorb a collision energy of a vehicle side collision
irrespective of a large or small amount of the collision
energy.
In order to solve the above-mentioned object, the present invention
is a vehicle seat which includes: a seat body; a plurality of seat
supports which extend along the longitudinal direction of a
vehicle, are disposed at intervals along the width direction of a
vehicle, and support the seat body; and a load absorption member
which connects the adjacent seat supports each other, the load
absorption member having: a plurality of beams which extend between
the adjacent seat supports along the width direction of the
vehicle; and a plate-shaped portion on which the beams are provided
along the width direction of the vehicle to form a plurality of
areas which are partitioned with the beams so that the plurality of
areas are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle.
In the vehicle seat, the beams catch a load between the seat
supports when there is a collision from the side and a load is
applied to the one seat support along the width direction of the
vehicle. At this time, if some of the beams are buckled or bent, a
shearing stress is caused in the plate-shaped portion between the
adjacent beams, which prevents the buckling and bending of the
beams.
According to the present invention, since the shearing stress which
prevents the buckling and bending of the beams owing to load input
by the lateral collision is caused in the plate-shaped portion, the
collision energy can be stably absorbed within a long stroke.
It is preferable that the beams of the above-mentioned vehicle seat
transmit load therein to the areas of the plate-shaped portion. In
this case, the collision load can be efficiently absorbed by the
plate-shaped portion.
It is preferable that the seat supports of the above-mentioned
vehicle seat include a pair of slide rails which support the seat
body slidably forward and backward along the vehicle. In this case,
a vehicle interior space can be efficiently utilized by using the
slide rails as the seat supports.
The beams of the above-mentioned vehicle seat and the plate-shaped
portion may be different members with each other, and the beams may
be fixed on an upper face of the plate-shaped portion. In this
case, rigidity of the vehicle seat can be easily improved.
It is preferable that the beams of the above-mentioned vehicle seat
include: a bottom flange which is fixed on the upper face of the
plate-shaped portion; and a vertical wall which stands from the
bottom flange. In addition, the bottom flange and the vertical wall
of the beams may form substantially an L-shaped section. In this
case, the beams can be easily fixed to the plate-shaped
portion.
The beams of the above-mentioned vehicle seat may include an upper
flange which extends from a top of the vertical wall parallel to
the bottom flange; and the bottom flange and the upper flange may
extend in opposite directions from each other from the vertical
wall. Otherwise, the beams may include an upper flange which
extends from the top of the vertical wall parallel to the bottom
flange; and the bottom flange, the upper flange, and the vertical
wall therebetween may form substantially an I-shaped section. In
these cases, since the upper flange is provided, the rigidity of
the beams can be highly improved.
It is preferable that the bottom flange of the above-mentioned
vehicle seat be joined to the plate-shaped portion substantially
throughout the width direction of the vehicle. In this case, the
collision load applied to the beams can be transmitted to the
plate-shaped portion from the whole beams.
It is preferable that the seat supports of the above-mentioned
vehicle seat be joined at bottom faces to both ends of the
plate-shaped portion along the width direction of the vehicle. In
this case, the collision load applied to all of the seat supports
can be transmitted to the plate-shaped portion from all of the seat
supports.
In the above-mentioned vehicle seat, it is preferable that the
plate-shaped portion and the seat supports have substantially the
same length along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
The beams of the above-mentioned vehicle seat may be formed as one
with the plate-shaped portion by pushing upward a part of a flat
plate member forming the plate-shaped portion. In this case, the
vehicle seat can be easily assembled.
It is preferable that the above-mentioned vehicle seat be provided
further with a middle reinforcement rib which is disposed on
substantially the middle position of the plate-shaped portion along
the width direction of the vehicle and extends along the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In this case, the load can
be uniformly transmitted to both ends of the middle reinforcement
rib along the width direction of the vehicle with respect to the
plate-shaped portion.
It is preferable that the middle reinforcement rib of the
above-mentioned vehicle seat cross the beams and to be joined to
the beams.
It is preferable that the load absorption member of the
above-mentioned vehicle seat be further provided with a flat
plate-shaped portion (i.e., an upper plate) which is joined to
upper portions of the beams and the middle reinforcement rib. In
this case, the deformation of the beams can be prevented more
efficiently since the shearing stress is caused in the upper plate
which is partitioned into a plurality of areas by the beams and the
middle reinforcement rib.
It is preferable that the above-mentioned vehicle seat have a flat
plate (i.e., an upper plate) which is joined to upper portions of
the beams. In this case, the deformation of the beams can be
efficiently prevented since the shearing stress is caused in the
upper plate which is partitioned into a plurality of areas by the
beams.
It is preferable that a dimple which is formed on the area of the
plate-shaped portion partitioned with the beams in the
above-mentioned vehicle seat so as to be depressed downward with
respect to the vehicle body. In addition, the dimple may have
substantially an oval-shaped extending along the width direction of
the vehicle. In this case, the rigidity of the plate-shaped portion
can be improved without adding another member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a typical explanatory view showing a first embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the first
embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment and
taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the
first embodiment and taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another modification of
the first embodiment and taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the fourth embodiment and
taken along the line B-B in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the words "upper", "lower",
"front", and "back" in the following description denote "upper",
"lower", "front", and "back" of a vehicle body.
A first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3
will be described.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle C having a vehicle seat 1
according to the present invention as a front seat and another
vehicle C' colliding with the side of the vehicle C. In FIG. 1, a
reference symbol 2 denotes a side door at a front seat side of the
vehicle C, a reference symbol 3 denotes a side sill, and a
reference symbol 4 denotes a floor panel in a compartment. The
vehicle seat 1 has a seat body 5 which is disposed on the floor
panel 4 at the front seat side and includes a seat back 5a and a
seat cushion 5b.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of seat rails (i.e., seat supports) 6
and 7 are fixed on the floor panel 4 along a longitudinal direction
of the vehicle at intervals along the width direction of the
vehicle. The pair of seat rails 6 and 7 are joined via a load
absorption member 8. Each of the seat rails 7 and 8 includes a pair
of side walls extending along the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle, has substantially a U-shaped section which opens upward,
and includes downward bends 6a and 7a which bend widthwise inward
and downward from each upper end of the side walls. Sliders 10 are
slidably engaged with the downward bends 6a and 7a of the seat
rails 6 and 7 (refer to FIG. 1). The slider 10 projects from a
lower face of a seat cushion frame 9.
The load absorption member 8 has a base plate (i.e., a plate-shaped
portion) 11 having the same length along the longitudinal direction
of the vehicle as the seat rails 6 and 7 and being joined to the
lower face of the seat rails 6 and 7 at both ends of the width
direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of ribs (i.e., beams) 12
being joined to an upper face of the base plate 11 so as to follow
the width direction of the vehicle. The ribs 12 extend between side
faces of the seat rails 6 and 7 at both end thereof with prescribed
spaces on the base plate 11 and partition the base plate 11 into a
plurality of rectangular areas A1, A2, and A3. Each of the ribs 12
is formed, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to have substantially an
L-shaped section including a vertical wall 12a and a bottom flange
12b. The bottom flange 12b is joined on the upper face of the base
plate 11 by welding, adhesion, and the like. Each of the bottom
flanges 12b of the ribs 12 is joined to the base plate 11
substantially throughout the width direction of the vehicle.
In addition, the ribs 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 have L-shaped
section; however, the sectional shape of the rib is optional. For
example, ribs (i.e., beams) 112 shown in FIG. 4, which have a
vertical wall 112a, an upper flange 112c extending horizontally
from the top of the vertical wall 112a, and a bottom flange 112b
extending horizontally opposite direction to the upper flange 112c
from the bottom of the vertical wall 112a, can be employed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, ribs (i.e., beams) 212, which have
substantially I-shaped sections by a vertical wall 212a, an upper
flange 212b extending horizontally from the top of the vertical
wall 212a, and a bottom flange 212c extending horizontally from the
bottom of the vertical wall 212a, can be employed.
In the above-mentioned structure, as shown in FIG. 1, when the
other vehicle C' collides the side of the vehicle C having the
above-mentioned vehicle seat 1, collision load F thereof is applied
to the outside seat rail 7 of the width direction of the vehicle
via the side door 2, the seat body 5, or the like. The load F is
applied to the ribs 12 of the load absorption member, bends the
ribs 12, and causes a shearing stress in the areas A1, A2, and A3
of the base plate to prevent deformation of the ribs 12.
Specifically, for example, when the collision load F is applied as
an arrow in FIG. 2 shows and the ribs 12 existing ahead of the load
F are deformed, the shearing stress "a" rises in the areas A1 and
A2 existing between the deformed rib 12 and the adjacent rib 12.
Furthermore, shearing stress rises also in the area A3 owing to the
deformation of the adjacent area A2. The collision load F is
absorbed by the shearing stresses in the areas A1 and A2 and the
deformations of the ribs 12.
With respect to the vehicle seat 1, the shearing stresses in the
areas A1, A2, and A3 of the base plate 11 are kept when the ribs 12
are bent and deformed owing to the load applied exceeding the
elastic limit of the ribs 12. Therefore, when there is a lateral
collision, the vehicle seat 1 can absorb the collision energy in
long stroke extend (that is, even if the collision energy is large
or small).
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
A vehicle seat 301 of the present embodiment has a base plate 311
(i.e., a plate-shaped portion) is joined to the lower face of the
pair of seat rails 6 and 7 extending along the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle similarly to the first embodiment. A
plurality of ribs (i.e., beams) 312 having trapezoid sections are
formed integrally to the base plate 311. The ribs 312 are formed by
deforming the base plate so as to swell out upward from a base face
(i.e., an upper face) of the base plate having the same height as
the lower faces of the seat rails 6 and 7 so that both ends are in
contact with the side faces of the seat rails 6 and 7. Therefore,
the ribs 312 are formed as parts of a plate member forming the base
plate 311 and partition the base plate 311 into the areas A1 and A2
along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The load
absorption member 8 of the present invention is structured from the
base plate 311 and the ribs 312.
With regard to the vehicle seat 301 of the present invention, the
ribs 312 are formed integrally with the base plate, and in contact
with the side face of the seat rails 6 and 7 similarly to the first
embodiment. Therefore, the collision load which is applied by the
lateral collision is mainly supported by the ribs 312. The shearing
stresses preventing the deformation of the ribs 312 rise in the
partitioned areas A1 and A2 of the base plate 311 when the ribs 312
are deformed by collapsing or bending. Thus, the collision energy
can be reliably and stably absorbed by the vehicle seat 301 similar
to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
A vehicle seat 401 of the present embodiment has a pair of seat
rails 6 and 7 extending along the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle, a base plate 11 joined to the lower face of the seat rails
6 and 7 as the first embodiment, and a plurality of ribs 12
extending along the width direction of the vehicle and joined to
the upper face of the base plate 11. A middle reinforcement rib 15
extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is joined
to substantially a middle position along the width direction of the
vehicle of the base plate 11. The middle reinforcement rib 15
crosses the ribs 12 extending along the width direction of the
vehicle and is joined to the ribs 12. A plate-shaped upper plate
(i.e., plate-shaped portion) 16 is disposed on the top of the ribs
12 and the middle reinforcement rib 15 between the seat rails 6 and
7. The upper plate 16 is joined on the top portion of the ribs 12
and the middle reinforcement rib 15.
The base plate 11 of the vehicle seat 401 is partitioned into the
areas A1 to A8 by the ribs 12 and the middle reinforcement rib 15;
further, the upper plate 16 is joined on the upper portions thereof
and also partitioned into a plurality of areas. Therefore, the
lateral collision causes shearing stress uniformly in the base
plate 11 and the areas A1 to A8 of the upper plate 16; thus, the
shearing stress preventing the deformation of the ribs 12 can
function fully and efficiently. Furthermore, since the middle
reinforcement rib 15 is provided, the load can be transmitted
uniformly to between adjacent areas via the middle reinforcement
rib 15; thus, the stress risen in the base plate 11 and the upper
plate 16, so that the deformation of the ribs 12 can be efficiently
prevented.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
A vehicle seat 501 of the present embodiment has the pair of seat
rails 6 and 7 extending along the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle, and a base plate (i.e., plate-shaped portion) joined to
the lower face of the seat rails 6 and 7, similar to the first
embodiment. The plurality of ribs extending along the width
direction of the vehicle are joined on the upper face of the base
plate 511. Dissimilar to the first embodiment, an area where the
ribs 12 are not joined to in the base plate 511 is provided with a
dimple 20 having substantially an elliptical shape extending along
the width direction of the vehicle and depressed downward of the
vehicle.
The vehicle seat of the present embodiment can basically obtain the
same function as the first embodiment; furthermore, the rigidity of
the base plate 511 can be highly improved without adding another
member since the dimples 20 are formed on the base plate 511. In
addition, since side walls of the dimple 20 partition the base
plate 511 into smaller areas, the shearing stress can rise in broad
areas.
It should be understood that the above are exemplary of the present
invention and not be considered as limiting. Modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention is not to be considered as being
limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *